Sherry George
A lovely but fading photo of Uncle Cornelius and Great Aunt Mildred, a marriage certificate that belonged to your grandparents, a stiff pair of leather suspenders that you still associate with a beloved great-grandfather.
We all have similar keepsakes. Items too dear to us to get rid of, but slowly deteriorating in an unused cupboard.
What to do with them!
This article speaks to two different perspectives. If you have thought about donating your collection to the museum, but are not sure of its value to the public, read on. I can give you some information that will help you make a decision.
If you simply want to know how to preserve your family treasures, I can assist with that, too. Mark next Thursday (Feb. 24) on your calendar as the Fort Frances Museum, along with former curator Pam Cain, is hosting a “Preserving Your Family Heirlooms” workshop at 7 p.m. upstairs at the museum.
Call 274-7891 to reserve your spot, then bring along an item you want to preserve (something small like a photo, document, or a doily).
A $10 fee covers the cost of archival-quality supplies.
Or perhaps you’ve inherited a collection of odds and ends from your parents and are not sure what to do with it. You really have no room to store it but hate to simply get rid of the stuff.
Some items—like your father’s war souvenirs (i.e., his pay book, a small notebook full of scribblings, a tarnished medal)—are rather interesting. And your mother’s hand-embroidered tablecloths and crocheted doilies are too lovely to scrap.
After all, the work that went into making them is mind-boggling!
So what should you be considering?
First of all, are they of value to the public? The Fort Frances Museum collects and preserves those things that represent our community’s history.
For example, our fathers and grandfathers fought in the wars. So souvenirs of their experiences, or of that time period, such as ration books or posters of the war effort, are of interest to us today.
The way our ancestors lived, the schools they attended, the manner in which their homes were decorated, how they earned a living . . . anything that represents our past and our area are important reminders of our heritage.
We need to preserve them for future generations.
Can we save everything? Unfortunately not. Because space is limited, the museum cannot accept large items such as sleighs or pianos. We also have enough sewing machines, typewriters, and flatirons.
We only would accept another if it represents a time period we do not have, or someone or something important to our history.
If you are not sure if the museum would have an interest in your donation, call ahead.
Okay, you think the museum would like to have my father’s collection but maybe I want it, too. Can you keep it from deteriorating further?
Everything contributes to the gradual deterioration of items over time. Photos, documents, and textiles all will fade and become brittle when exposed to light, humidity, temperature, and just about everything else.
Insects also can be an issue. Can you control your environment adequately?
Museums, on the other hand, are designed to minimize damage to their collections by controlling their environments. The recently-refurbished Fort Frances Museum has proper storage areas that are monitored daily for humidity and temperature.
It has a security system and controls light. Furthermore, not only do trained staff prepare items for storage according to clear specifications, but it is their mandate to do so.
They are required to preserve your heirloom and keep it safe.
Okay, so I need to attend this workshop so I can learn how to preserve my family’s treasures. If it’s encapsulated or safe inside an acid-free box, we’re good to go, right?
Maybe. But who gets to enjoy it?
Items donated to a museum periodically are displayed in a manner that shows them off in the way they were designed. The community gets to see and enjoy your mother’s lovely handiwork.
Local children, meanwhile, learn about wartime and feel the pang of the telegram that starkly announces a missing in action.
Another thing to consider is this. Should you pass away without deciding what is to become of your family treasures, will someone else value them? Or will your heirloom be tossed out with the trash?
You may be the only one who knows the crest stamped into that dented tin box had a historic connection to the War of 1812. Or that Grandma had saved all summer to buy that carefully-preserved lace blouse for her first day teaching—and then was told it was too revealing and not suitable at all!
And yes, those stories that go with the artifacts also are vitally important. They tell the community story—provide a snapshot in time that no picture can truly capture.
In related news, the exhibit, “Threadworks,” is coming to the Fort Frances Museum on March 6-April 16.
Meanwhile, a writers’ workshop with college professor, Douglas Skrief, will be held Feb. 26.
“Basics & Beyond,” a genealogy workshop by Janis Higgins, is planned for March 12 and “Our Creative Past” will be held during March Break.
And beginning in April, a digital art collection by local artist, Penny Faragher. Check out our ad for details.
The Fort Frances Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
For more information, or to reserve your spot for the workshop, contact the museum at 274-7891 or via e-mail at ffmuseum@fort-frances.com
